Chronicle of a Pharaoh: The Intimate Life of Amenhotep III

This attractive, richly illustrated little book relates the life of Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt in the 14th century B.C.E. He was a remarkable figure, and during his reign, Egypt was the world superpower, enjoying unparalleled economic growth and peace, both at home and with its neighbors. Amenhotep was a brilliant politician, best known today as the builder of the magnificent temple of Luxor and the royal palace of Malkata. Yet Fletcher, a well-known freelance Egyptologist based in England, focuses equally on some of the more intimate details of Amenhotep's life. She has organized the book in short chapters, each corresponding to roughly one year of Amenhotep's life, allowing Fletcher to present a plethora of extraordinary documents, paintings and sculptures that shed light on specific problems or events of Amenhotep's reign. For example, she includes charming details of the pharaoh's three jubilee festivals, and examines how he mourned the death of his loved ones and his marriage to the remarkable Queen Tiy. In addition, the author presents fascinating details of her subject's diplomatic relations with neighboring states and of how Amenhotep utilized religion to bolster his reign. The essential weakness of the format, however, is that it breaks up the narrative, thus losing an analytical edge. The book could also have benefited from a summary introduction or conclusion. Strengths outweigh weaknesses, however, in this aesthetically pleasing, small volume that imparts a taste of Amenhotep's persona, making the reader feel closer to this figure who lived so long ago. (Oct.)